How Long Does Fondant Take to Dry? Plus 5 Helpful Tips

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Last Updated on February 22, 2023

Many cake bakers use fondant when decorating cakes to create beautiful and elaborate designs. You may wonder though, how long does fondant take to dry?

Fondant can be a great tool to use, but it does take time to work with. If you use fondant while baking, you will want to know how to make fondant dry faster.

The great thing about fondant is that is pliable and can be made in any color. However, it can take some time to dry which can be difficult if you are short on time. Fortunately, there are some great hacks to dry your fondant quickly.

What is Fondant? How Long Does Fondant Take to Dry?

Fondant is a type of icing that comes in different forms including rolled and poured. Rolled, which is the more common of the two, is used to decorate cakes that are frosted with buttercream. It creates a smooth, elegant-looking surface that is great for creating and adding designs.

What is fondant made of?

Rolled fondant typically consists of water, sugar, and corn syrup. However, you can also get a version that uses marshmallows. After mixing all the ingredients, bakers use a rolling pin to roll it into flat sheets.

These sheets are then placed on cakes and the excess is trimmed off. It has a similar consistency to clay, but it is completely edible.

How Long Does Fondant Take to Dry?

So, how long does fondant take to dry? Before you start baking you will want to know this important information. 

A cake that is entirely covered in fondant can take anywhere from 24-30 hours to dry at room temperature. In some cases, it can take up to 36 hours to dry. For small decorations, it can take as little as two hours to dry.

You don’t want to move your fondant before it is done drying as can cause the fondant to lose its shape. Though it can be time-consuming to let fondant dry, you must allow it to fully dry.  Fortunately, some great hacks will speed up the drying process. 

How to Quickly Dry Fondant

Not everyone has the time to wait up to 36 hours to let their fondant dry. Luckily, if you have a busy schedulesome helpful tips willl speed up the drying process. How to quickly dry fondant is simple to do and can be a big help for your decorating process.

1. Roll it thin

When preparing your fondant, be sure to roll it out thin. The thinner it is, the faster it will dry and the easier it will be to work with. In addition, thin fondant is more appealing on a cake, as thick fondant can have an undesirable texture.

When rolling, it is easiest to roll it out on parchment paper or wax paper. Be sure to also lightly flour your rolling pin to help prevent it from sticking.

2. Use an oven light or table light

Placing your fondant under light can help speed up the drying time. Place your rolled fondant into a cookie sheet and place it in the oven with the oven light on. With it in the oven with just the light on, it can dry in as little as an hour.

In addition, you can also use a table light to dry it as well. Place your table light about 8-12 inches above your fondant on your kitchen counter. With this method, decorations will dry in less than an hour, and rolled sheets will take around two to three hours.

3. Use a fan or blow dryer

A fan can also help speed up the time it takes to dry your fondant. Place your fondant on a lined cookie sheet on your kitchen counter and place a fan right next to it. With a fan, it should take around three to ten hours to dry.

You can also use a hair blow dryer as well, though this is more practical for smaller decorations. With the blow dryer on the cool setting, hold it six inches away from your decorations. Blow-dry the decorations for 10-20 minutes.

4. Use a food dehydrator

A food dehydrator can be a handy tool for drying fondant. With the food dehydrator at low, it will take a tenth of the time to dry out your fondant as compared to drying it at room temperature.

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5. Add a drying agent

Adding a drying agent to your fondant can also reduce drying time. By adding Tylose or gum paste when preparing your fondant, you can help speed up the process to dry it.

How Long Does it Take for Fondant Decorations to Harden?

The length of time it takes for fondant decorations to harden will vary on the size of the decorations. A small fondant decoration that is only a couple of inches in size or smaller can take as little as two hours. Most small decorations will dry within four hours in the right conditions. 

Medium decorations that are about four to six inches in size will take around four to eight hours to dry. Some may take more or less time depending on the environment you are drying the decorations.

Decorations that are six inches or larger will likely take eight to 24 hours to dry, depending on their size. For big decorations, be sure to allow plenty of time for them to dry. 

If your decorations are thick, they will need even longer to dry. Depending on the design of your fondant decorations, you may even need to use wooden skewers or bowls to hold them up as they harden. 

While it can be tempting, don’t rush the drying process for your fondant decorations. If the decorations have not fully dried, they risk falling apart when you add them to your cake. 

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make your fondant decorations so you are not rushing to dry them in time. You can make your fondant decorations several days in advance to save you time.

After they are dry, cover your fondant decorations in a thin layer of vegetable shortening and then wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, place the decorations in a Ziploc bag or airtight container until you are ready to use them.

Store your fondant decorations in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Do not put the fondant decorations in the fridge as fondant does not store well in the fridge. 

How to Dry Fondant in the Oven

The oven can be a great tool for drying your fondant. The best way to dry fondant in the oven is to use the oven light, as stated above. The oven provides a dry environment to dry your fondant and the light helps speed up the process. 

For the best results, place your fondant on a cookie sheet before placing it in the oven. If you are worried about the fondant sticking, you can use parchment paper or silicone baking mats with your cookie sheets.

Another way to dry fondant in the oven is to turn on the oven to the lowest heat. However, this can be tricky as it can ruin your fondant if not done correctly. Many bakers do not like to use this method to dry their fondant.

For most ovens, the lowest temperature they will go is 170 degreesFahrenheitt. Any higher than that will likely be too hot for the fondant. 

Place the fondant in the oven for around 10 minutes, or a couple of minutes longer for slightly larger pieces. If you are concerned about your fondant cooking, you can turn off your oven before placing your fondant in it. The oven will still be warm, however, you don’t have to worry about it cooking your fondant.

After about 10 minutes, remove your fondant from the oven. Allow it to continue to dry for another one to two hours before adding it to your cakes. For larger decorations, the process may take longer. 

How to Store Fondant

To store your leftover fondant, roll it out into sheets or shape it into a log. Then, cover it with a thin layer of shortening and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Store it at room temperature in a cool, dry place such as a pantry for up to three months.

Be sure to keep your fondant out of direct sunlight and away from water. You also want to avoid storing your fondant in the fridge or freezer as this will affect the texture. In addition, you can also store pre-cut-out shapes to save you time.

How Long Does Fondant Take to Dry? Everything You Should Know 

Fondant takes a very long time to dry, up to 36 hours. This can be problematic if you are running short on time and are needing to decorate a cake in a hurry. Fortunately, there are several great ways to speed up this process.

One of the most important steps is to roll it thin, not only to speed up the drying process but also because thinner fondant is more desirable on a cake. In addition, you can use an oven light, table light, fan, blow dryer, food dehydrator, or drying agent. All of these will help reduce the drying time, making decorating easier for you.

You can then store any leftover fondant by rolling it into sheets, shaping it as a log, or forming decorations. All you have to do is cover it in a layer of shortening and then cover it in plastic wrap.

Do you have any questions regarding how long does fondant take to dry? If so, please ask your fondant-related questions in the comment section below.

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